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A lesson of the excluded

· ​During his visit to Chiapas the Pope denounces the exploitation of the indigenous peoples of Mexico and calls families to overcome uncertainty and isolation
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Feb. 16, 2016

With their wisdom and their
capacity to protect creation, the indigenous peoples of Mexico have “much to
teach humanity”. In the heart of Chiapas, a cradle of civilizations and
cultures which, through the centuries have often been oppressed, the Pope gave
a voice to the peoples' desire for freedom; it is “a promised land where
oppression, mistreatment and humiliation are not the currency of the day”. The
Holy Father celebrated Mass on Monday morning, 15 February, in San Cristóbal de
Las Casas, with tens of thousands of faithful, mostly from local ethnic
communities.

Denouncing exclusion and the systematic exploitation of resources,
the Pontiff invited those responsible “examine their conscience” and to find
the courage to ask for forgiveness. “Today’s world, ravaged as it is by a
throwaway culture, needs you”, he repeated several times to the indigenous
communities, whose capacity “to interact harmoniously with nature” is
indispensable in order to confront what Francis defined as “one of the greatest
environmental crises in world history”.

On the fourth day of the papal visit the Pope also met with
families in a festive encounter in the stadium of Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Struck by
their experiences, Francis warned of ideological colonizations which favour
“isolation” and aim at destroying the foundation of every healthy society. We
must, he said, walk away from the temptation for closure and from “fear of
love” which often paralyzes family life. Wounds, scars and wrinkles, the Pope
assured, “are the fruit of a faithful love which has had its share of
difficulties. Love is not easy, it is
not easy, but the most beautiful thing is when a man and a woman can offer each
other true love and offer it for life”.